December 10, 2007
5 Minutes for Books — Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?
Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? is one of the best parenting books I’ve read this year. As an evangelical Christian, I wouldn’t normally pick up “the essential scoop on raising modern Jewish kids,” but as a mom trying to navigate the ever-changing waters of my nine-year-old’s life in 2007, I have no doubt that parenting this generation requires a working knowledge of their modern culture. Author Sharon Duke Estroff dishes up the scoop with humor and a balanced perspective stemming from her expertise as a mother of four and twenty years of teaching experience.
Estroff thoroughly covers a range of topics of interest for those of us parenting school-aged kids including
- kindergarten readiness and school enrollment (public or private)
- teaching your children to properly handle money
- friendship (including a funny chapter with a Q&A format answering all those questions about the post-preschool era playdate, another on “the scho
olyard social jungle,” and yet another on birthday parties, and yes, an exclusively Jewish concern–the Bar/Bat Mitzvah) - extra-curriculars: how much, how to pick them, and how to balance them with religious commitments
- a very informative chapter on “parenting the net generation” with wonderful overviews and safety precautions about IM, social networking, cyber bullying and yes, cell phones.
You can download a discussion guide at the author’s site to enhance your study or make a perfect springboard for a book club meeting.
If you would like to win one of five copies, leave a comment here, and we’ll announce the winner in next week’s book column.
The winners of For Parents Only are #40, Jessica and #88 Amy R.
Filed under * Feature Columns, 5 Minutes for Books, Parenting by Jennifer
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44 Comments on 5 Minutes for Books — Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? »
#1 - Deb - Mom of 3 Girls @ 1:03 am
This sounds like a great book!
#2 - Loraine @ 1:59 am
I would love to win. The book sounds great. Can it be shipped to Canada?
#3 - zukppr @ 6:54 am
:::snort::: how did this author know what my 10 year old dd wanted for Hanukkah? It’s been part of her ‘wish list’ for the past year…
Oh, and don’t be surprised if your children receive invitations to Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations as they get older.
#4 - Bess @ 8:55 am
Count me in! Thanks!
#5 - Dawn @ 9:01 am
Sounds like an interesting read.
#6 - Kira @ 10:53 am
Sounds great!
#7 - Amy @ 10:54 am
As a mom of 12 and 6 year old boys I would LOVE to read this book! Thanks!
#8 - Amy R. @ 10:55 am
This sounds interesting!
#9 - jenna @ 11:42 am
Hadn’t heard of this one before. Enter me!
#10 - Beth@sportsmomma @ 11:45 am
sounds like a book with great wisdom!! Count me in please
#11 - Shera @ 12:34 pm
I would love to read this book!
#12 - Amy @ 12:34 pm
This sounds like a great book. In my house… one wants a cell phone and the other an iPod! What ever happened to the presents I got as a kid… socks, hair bands and clips, crayons and coloring books, BOOKS! Progress?
#13 - pam @ 12:45 pm
My 2 year old was begging to open presents even before his older cousins. He’s going to be a challenge.
#14 - Diana @ 2:06 pm
I would love to read this– we make the kindergarten decision next month…
#15 - kelli in the mirror @ 2:22 pm
This sounds like a great resource!
#16 - Naomi @ 3:15 pm
I am very interested in this book!
#17 - Christine Saulter @ 3:16 pm
Sounds like a wonderful book!
#18 - Jennifer C. @ 3:17 pm
Sounds like a lot of useful information. Please enter me in the give-away.
#19 - Brooke @ 4:01 pm
I totally need this for my halvsie daughters!
Please randomly select me!
#20 - Shari @ 5:25 pm
Our house is all about Christmakah! So if anyone could tell me how to raise a child in this modern day and age in a blended family, I am all over it!! Me please, me!
#21 - Velma @ 6:01 pm
May daughter is only 7, and I already need all the help I can get!
#22 - Bree @ 6:15 pm
This book sounds really interesting!
#23 - Marilyn @ 6:40 pm
As a part-time nanny for my grandchildren, I’d like to check out how to raise “modern Jewish kids.” Thanks for the opportunity.
#24 - Amanda @ 8:46 pm
We need this book! Thanks for sharing!!
#25 - autismtymz2 @ 8:56 pm
Greetings,
What a wonderful contest…definitely helpful for making informed decisions leading to a wise vision.
Have a beautiful day,
Lesley
#26 - Kristine @ 9:22 pm
Sounds like an excellent book for our Jewish family!
#27 - Casey @ 9:27 pm
Sounds great!
#28 - Jason Fleming @ 9:56 pm
interesting!
#29 - Dodo O @ 10:25 pm
I think this guide would be very helpful for me.
#30 - Angela & Connor @ 10:53 pm
Hahahhaha I still can’t get over kids even have cell phones these days…
Im blogging you
http://contestaddict.blogspot.com
#31 - Taryn @ 10:57 pm
fun title!
#32 - tammy b @ 11:40 pm
thanks for the info……..i probably would have never even looked at this book, but it looks like something that would be beneficial!
#33 - Caryn Bailey @ 4:22 am
Count me in please!
#34 - Heather @ 2:46 pm
what an amazing book!
#35 - Katrina @ 4:10 pm
Sounds good! I’m always looking to add to my “parenting bookshelf.” Please enter me!
#36 - Jill (The Well-Read Child) @ 6:38 pm
Sounds like a very interesting book. I’d love to win a copy.
#37 - Laura K @ 8:13 pm
I’d love to win a copy of this interesting book.
#38 - Cathy @ 11:41 pm
I would love this!
#39 - Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings @ 12:40 am
Fun sounding book!
blogged ya:
http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/12/tuesday-edition-of-contests-galore_11.html
#40 - Chondra @ 12:37 pm
Sounds like a wonderful book! I would love to have it! At ten, my daughter is asking for things I wouldn’t have dreamed of asking for until I was atleast 13!
#41 - Kristen @ 8:05 pm
Me! Me! Please!
#42 - Anna @ 9:05 am
I’d love to win one!
#43 - jessie @ 10:29 pm
sounds great- please enter me!
#44 - Saturday Review of Books: December 15, 2007 at Semicolon @ 12:41 pm
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